Assistant District Attorney Lance Pope told Steelman that the .40-caliber Sig Sauer handgun used in the killing of 18-year-old Myles Compton soon should be returned from ballistics testing at the state crime lab.

A local weapons expert will conduct an inspection to determine if the handgun has any defects that could cause a misfire or malfunction.

Witnesses testified that, on March 9, 2011, Stout held the pistol to Compton's chest and fired while they were at a party at 9125 Stoney Mountain Drive.

Kevin Driscoll, who lives in the home, testified in a Sessions Court hearing two weeks later that he took the gun out of a gunbox. He said the gun was empty when he took it out and he didn't know who loaded it.

Stout was released on a reduced bond of $27,000 in June and attended the Disciples of Christ Ranch in Okeechobee, Fla. -- a Christian facility with counseling and volunteer work -- from September through January.

Hill has maintained in previous interviews that the shooting was accidental and his client didn't know the weapon was loaded.